Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I've been watching a lot of old westerns on Encore recently, and something I've noticed that I had never thought about before.

Everyone shoots up in the air. Doesn't matter who it is. Cowboys coming to save the herd from rustlers. Rustlers attacking the herd. Indians attacking the wagon train. Cavalry coming to save the wagon trail in the nick of time.

They all open the action by shooting up in the air for some reason. Must be that long, looping trajectory those old guns have.

Very strange.

I once worked with a fellow who had a granddad that experienced some of the old west. He said he many conversations with him about the old days before he passed on. Most that he related to me were interesting. Nothing like we see in the movies, even the old ones. One example is the notion of 2 gun fighters standing at each end of main street and one plugging the other through the heart. Never happened. Gun battles were close up and personal. Newspapers from back east (when/if you got them) were 3-4 months old, most of the women were butt ugly, and living conditions were horrible. I still think I'd give up an arm to have lived back then.

Here's my definition of what the act of shooting in the air means for each of the scenarios that you mentioned.

Cowboys coming to save the herd from rustlers.
"You rustlers better GIT! We're coming over there guns a'blazin' to save our cattle!"

Rustlers attacking the herd.
"Hey cattle! Get grouped up! We're gonna herd you on outta here!"

Indians attacking the wagon train.
"Here we come to steal your food and rape your women - and we're armed to the teeth, so don't resist!"

Cavalry coming to save the wagon trail in the nick of time.
"Here we come to save the day, and we're armed to the teeth, so you'd better get outta here or pay the consequences!"



Well, that's how I see it anyway

seems like a lot of wasted ammo to me...if you have a six shooter and shoot 2 or 3 in the air, you only have a few shots before you have to reload.

its the same reason I dislike the idea of shotting fully automatic. Aim is usually lousy and the rounds go all over the place, you are lucky to hit what you are aiming for unless you walk the rounds to the target.


Just some of my Marine training (brainwashing) I guess.

3-round controlled bursts gets em every time !!!!

First of all it is the movies.
Second however could be the hope of bad guys backing off rather than stay for the real shootin .